U of H, Pitt square off Friday in Fort Worth

Special to the Examiner

Published 8:00 am, Wednesday, January 1, 2014

For two college football programs looking in new directions, Fort Worth is a good place to start.

Houston (7-5) and Pittsburgh (6-6) tee it up in next Friday’s 12th Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at TCU's Amon Carter Stadium, kickoff set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN. It marks a return trip for one old friend, as well as a first-time guest.

It's a unique pairing of teams making change at the top. Houston and Pitt both are under interim leadership for today's game. New Houston head coach Tom Herman - previously Ohio State's offensive coordinator - won't be on the sideline, as he's just settling into his new job.

Those sideline scenarios likely won't prevent the Cougars and Panthers from trying to maul each other for one of college football's spectacular bowl trophies. It's the one forged using battle-worn metal and armament.

Houston brings a balanced offense (2,178 yards rushing, 2,719 passing) and a top 20-ranked defense into the match-up against a Pitt offense that includes two Football Writers Association of America All-America selections - running back James Conner (1,675 yards, 24 TDs rushing) and right tackle T.J. Clemmings.

UH junior running back Kenneth Farrow, a former local standout at Hurst L.D. Bell High School near Fort Worth, returns home next week, as will be several Cougars from the area. Farrow has nearly 1,000 yards rushing this season.

UH is back for a fourth go-round in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, last appearing in 2009. The Cougars previously faced Kansas (2005) and Air Force twice (2008, '09) and this time can even up at 2-2 in Fort Worth.

Pitt and the Atlantic Coast Conference are newcomers to the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Nearly always, new teams are a win for bowl games when it comes to filling one half of a match-up. Pitt landed on the card after Army - contractually scheduled this year to face a team from the American Athletic Conference - fell shy of the six victories required for bowl eligibility.